I’ve seen Spoonbills bite and chase smaller Alligators, but this one was a little large for that.
A normal day in the neighborhood.
Ignoring Each Other, Alligator And Spoonbill
Category Archives: Spoonbill
Strolling By
Out of habit I always study the marsh carefully when out walking. It’s also a good idea to pay attention to the salt marsh on the other side of this dike.
The mud is not very pretty, but you never know who you might find walking with you.
Roseate Spoonbill Play To The Camera
Spoonbill are one of the most photogenic birds. When they sit and just watch us their colors, and of course the unique bill, still make great photographs. There’s no need for them to be doing anything at all.
(Best viewed large)
No large groups this July, which is prime time for Spoonbill.
These two have been staying around the same general location though. There’s always a chance for a few images of them.
In The ‘Spoony’ Tree
Almost, but not quite, all grown up.
For reference among ourselves we refer to this marsh island and dead tree area as the ‘Spoony Tree’.
This is their favorite resting spot and at any given time there could one, or a dozen, climbing on it.
ACE Basin, South Carolina.
A Very Tenacious Animal, Roseate Spoonbill
In the 1950’s, in the Florida Keys, detailed records in a notebook started a long documented trail of the Spoonbill, Florida Everglades, and how these birds have moved their habitat to survive.
Below was photographed in the ACE Basin, South Carolina, 650 miles from Key Largo, Florida.
As the water levels and flow changed with development and farming in Florida the breeding Spoonbills all but disappeared. They like fresh, low salt, water and 6 inches (13 c) in depth.
However, a small percentage of young Spoonbill will travel as they reach adulthood. Enough to form new colonies. As they spread their range groups moved inland in Florida, next to the east coast around St. Augustine, and now up the Lowcountry marshes of Georgia and South Carolina.
In the ACE Basin area we see mostly young adults. The question is how many go back south a few hundred miles to breed?
It’s not that far and now there are some hidden colonies here. Did I mention Spoonbill nest where there are Alligators. There are more than enough in the ACE Basin to keep them happy.
If the marshes keep a consistent water level that the Spoonbills like there could be large thriving colonies here.
Right now we only get to see the large pink flocks a few times a year. It would be great to photograph big flocks all year long.
Until then I am more than happy with the smaller groups. Most places have never even seen them.
South Carolina Roseate Spoonbill
I used ‘South Carolina’ in the tile since I have learned a lot about the Spoonbill recently. Based on that this may be one of the birds in the first stages of local breeding out here.
Audubon in Florida has detailed notebooks going back to the 1950’s documenting the breeding patterns and nesting movements. They are resilient and have managed to survive in spite of us. Just barely though.
This juvenile was photographed in the ACE Basin 2 weeks ago. Later that day I captured a pair.
My own records show that almost 2 years ago to the day large flocks were in this same marsh area.
I hope to get out there next week to search out more of the Spoonbills.
I did not know that the Spoonbill is a species used to track the health of the Florida Everglades and southern wetlands in congressional presentations.
Smart… everybody loves a big pink bird, even our politicians.
Spoonbills
Roseate Spoonbills in a marsh.
A nice angle to see their unique bill.
ACE Basin, South Carolina.
Found A Spoonbill
A wide landscape shot taken of Spoonbills out in a marsh.
It’s a good example of a large open marsh in the ACE Basin.
Best viewed large.
